OCTOBER 30-NOVEMBER 5, 2025 MONTEREYCOUNTYNOW.COM LOCAL & INDEPENDENT THE MAKING OF A HAUNTED HOUSE 5 | JUSTICE FOR ALL 11 | PLAYING WITH FIRE 32 | SHAKE IT UP 37 FIRST PLACE GENERAL EXCELLENCE • 2025 CA JOURNALISM AWARDS • DOWN ON THE WATERFRONT Some say it was a curse, but it’s more likely that bad planning doomed Monterey’s Heritage Harbor. Fifty years later, it is still failing to thrive. p. 16 By David Schmalz
2 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY OCTOBER 30-NOVEMBER 5, 2025 www.montereycountynow.com OCTOBER 30-NOVEMBER 5, 2025 • ISSUE #1944 • ESTABLISHED IN 1988 Nik Blaskovich (Olympus E-M1X) California voters will decide on Nov. 4 on Proposition 50, changing district lines to favor Democrats as a counter to Texas’ plan. Above, Brenda Miller joins a Yes on 50 rally in Monterey on Saturday, Oct. 25, when the State Democratic Party leaders convened in town. MONTEREY COUNTY PHOTO OF THE WEEK Send Etc. submissions to etcphoto@montereycountynow.com; please include caption and camera info. On the cover: Monterey’s Fisherman’s Wharf (foreground) bustles with visitors while waterfront projects—including Heritage Harbor, hidden in the trees to the back right, and Monterey State Historic Park buildings—have failed to attract visitors in the halfcentury since they were envisioned. The City used eminent domain to remove people from an active, inhabited neighborhood. Cover image: Daniel Dreifuss etc. Copyright © 2025 by Milestone Communications Inc. 668 Williams Ave., Seaside, California 93955 (telephone 831-394-5656). All rights reserved. Monterey County Weekly, the Best of Monterey County and the Best of Monterey Bay are registered trademarks. No person, without prior permission from the publisher, may take more than one copy of each issue. Additional copies and back issues may be purchased for $1, plus postage. Mailed subscriptions: $300 yearly, prepaid. The Weekly is an adjudicated newspaper of Monterey County, court decree M21137. The Weekly assumes no responsibility for unsolicited materials. Visit our website at http://www.montereycountynow. com. Audited by CVC. FOUNDER & CEO Bradley Zeve bradley@montereycountynow.com (x103) PUBLISHER Erik Cushman erik@montereycountynow.com (x125) EDITORIAL EDITOR Sara Rubin sara@montereycountynow.com (x120) ASSOCIATE EDITOR Erik Chalhoub ec@montereycountynow.com (x135) FEATURES EDITOR Dave Faries dfaries@montereycountynow.com (x110) STAFF WRITER Celia Jiménez celia@montereycountynow.com (x145) STAFF WRITER Pam Marino pam@montereycountynow.com (x106) STAFF WRITER Agata Pope¸da (x138) aga@montereycountynow.com STAFF WRITER Katie Rodriguez (California Local News Fellow) katie@montereycountynow.com (x102) STAFF WRITER David Schmalz david@montereycountynow.com (x104) STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Daniel Dreifuss daniel@montereycountynow.com (x140) DIGITAL PRODUCER Sloan Campi sloan@montereycountynow.com (x105) CONTRIBUTORS Nik Blaskovich, Rob Brezsny, Robert Daniels, Tonia Eaton, Paul Fried, Jesse Herwitz, Jacqueline Weixel, Paul Wilner CARTOONS Rob Rogers, Tom Tomorrow PRODUCTION ART DIRECTOR/PRODUCTION MANAGER Karen Loutzenheiser karen@montereycountynow.com (x108) GRAPHIC DESIGNER Kevin Jewell kevinj@montereycountynow.com (x114) GRAPHIC DESIGNER Annie Cobb annie@montereycountynow.com (x114) GRAPHIC DESIGNER Lani Headley lani@montereycountynow.com (x114) SALES SENIOR SALES EXECUTIVE Diane Glim diane@montereycountynow.com (x124) SENIOR SALES EXECUTIVE George Kassal george@montereycountynow.com (x122) SENIOR SALES EXECUTIVE Keith Bruecker keith@montereycountynow.com (x118) CLASSIFIEDS BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR Keely Richter keely@montereycountynow.com (x123) DIGITAL DIRECTOR OF DIGITAL MEDIA Kevin Smith kevin@montereycountynow.com (x119) DISTRIBUTION DISTRIBUTION AT Arts Co. atartsco@gmail.com DISTRIBUTION CONTROL Harry Neal BUSINESS/FRONT OFFICE OFFICE MANAGER Linda Maceira linda@montereycountynow.com (x101) BOOKKEEPING Rochelle Trawick 668 Williams Ave., Seaside, CA 93955 831-394-5656, (FAX) 831-394-2909 www.montereycountynow.com We’d love to hear from you. Send us your tips at tipline.montereycountynow.com. Subscribe to the newsletter @ montereycountynow.com/subscribe Go to montereycountynow.com We Deliver… NEWS • ARTS • ENTERTAINMENT FOOD • DRINK • CALENDAR Local news everyday
www.montereycountynow.com OCTOBER 30-NOVEMBER 5, 2025 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 3 If you know Community Hospital, you know Montage Health. montagehealth.org The fact is, we’ve always been here. You’ve just known us by a different name. The people at Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula created Montage Health to deliver exceptional care to more people, by expanding our services beyond the hospital. Today, we’re urgent care centers, wellness centers, primary care doctors, health insurance plans, and a groundbreaking mental health program for youth. Still independent, nonprofit, locally owned, and accountable only to the community we serve.
4 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY OCTOBER 30-NOVEMBER 5, 2025 www.montereycountynow.com THE BUZZ FREE SPEECH Shasta County’s top elections official is under fire after he removed a nonprofit news organization from a press release distribution list, citing its “political lean” and tax filing status as his reasons. Registrar of Voters Clint Curtis claimed Shasta Scout’s coverage was “election interference,” but when pressed for specific examples, he told the outlet he didn’t need to do so. The First Amendment Coalition sent a letter to Curtis on Oct. 9, stating his decision to remove the Scout from the press release list “violates the First Amendment” and opens up the county to litigation. Soon after, the Shasta County Board of Supervisors issued a statement condemning Curtis’ actions. With pressure mounting, Curtis said he would post press releases on the county’s election website. “Elected officials, particularly election officials, should understand that any nonprofit news organizations have a mission to report the news and there is nothing, absolutely nothing, that would prevent any nonprofit news organization from covering the issues that affect a community,” David Bralow, director of the Press Freedom Defense Fund, told the Scout. Good: Santa Rita Elementary School has a new mascot thanks to the thoughtful work of the school’s students. It isn’t typical in the sense of a mighty animal, although they could have gone that route. Once known as the “Indians,” the school’s mascot is now officially the hummingbird by a vote of the Santa Rita Union School District Board of Trustees on Oct. 8. Students agreed the tiny bird represents “resilience, adaptability, love and strength in even the smallest of beings,” according to a press release. They spent months researching qualities of different animals to find those that reflect the spirit of their school and community, as well as how they connect to the indigenous people of Mexico. The change comes after the passage last year of California Assembly Bill 3074, which expanded the Racial Mascot Act to include the use of Native Americans. GREAT: Getting young people into nature is critical for them to gain an appreciation for the outdoors. Five local organizations got a boost in their efforts to inspire the next generation of environmental stewards with nearly $1 million in grants. The state’s Natural Resources Agency recently split $900,182 across the Ventana Wildlife Society, FoodWhat Incorporated, Save Our Shores, Wonder Wood Ranch and Ventana Wilderness Alliance. The Ventana Wildlife Society received the largest chunk of the funds with $292,011, which will go toward providing outdoor experiences for young people including kayaking, whale watching and park visits. “The Central Coast is home to awe-inspiring outdoor spaces, and every kid deserves a chance to visit our parks and explore, learn and grow,” said Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas, D-Hollister, who announced the grants. GOOD WEEK / GREAT WEEK THE WEEKLY TALLY That’s how many seats are in a 737 MAX 8 plane, which United Airlines will fly between Monterey Regional Airport and Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport on Saturdays from May 23-Aug. 15, 2026. The new route was announced on Oct. 23. Source: United Airlines 160 QUOTE OF THE WEEK “Please take advantage of this. I don’t want to see you in here again.” -Sheriff Tina Nieto, speaking to a group of inmates about the Sheriff’s Office’s new Re-Entry Resource Center (see story, montereycountynow.com). THAT I DON’T HAVE TO COOK Order your Thanksgiving Dinner from Elroy’s grateful thankful & blessed OVEN-ROASTED TURKEY BREAST Seasoned with orange, black pepper & cinnamon (GF, DF) ROASTED TURKEY GRAVY (GF, CONTAINS: DAIRY) APPLE SAGE STUFFING (NOT VEGETARIAN, CONTAINS: GLUTEN, EGGS, BUTTER) STRING BEAN CASSEROLE With shiitake miso cream sauce and crispy shallots (GF, VEGETARIAN, CONTAINS: SOY) GINGERED SWEET POTATO CASSEROLE (GF, CONTAINS: DAIRY) RAW CRANBERRY ORANGE RELISH (GF, VEGAN) BUTTERMILK WHIPPED POTATOES (GF, CONTAINS: DAIRY) DINNER ROLLS Served with sorghum pumpkin butter (CONTAINS: DAIRY, GLUTEN) @ELROYSFINEFOODS WWW.ELROYSFINEFOODS.COM 15 SOLEDAD DRIVE (831) 373-3737 MONTEREY, CA 93940 To place your order visit www.elroysfinefoods.com or scan this QR CODE! Quantities are limited, so order soon! Order Deadline: Thurs, 11/20 Pick Up Dates: Tues, 11/25 & Weds, 11/26 $150 per order (feeds 2 people)
www.montereycountynow.com OCTOBER 30-NOVEMBER 5, 2025 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 5 831 As night falls on an unassuming street tucked into Del Rey Oaks, all seems quiet as the kids get back from school and the adults return from a day at work. But there is one house that stands out among the rest on Work Avenue. Ghastly figures have taken residence in the front yard, daring all who pass by to enter, if they are so brave. For the souls who take a step inside, they may hear a faint scream coming from one corner. Is someone in danger, or is it just their imagination? There’s no time to think—zombies have spotted their prey and begin crawling toward the living. Suddenly a spider jumps out next to the path, and as one runs toward the front door and, perhaps, safety, another ghoul is waiting, tearing off its head in one final, grotesque jumpscare. This is Paul Hastey’s pride and joy, a Halloween tradition for nearly a decade where he attempts to go bigger and better every year. The trick-or-treaters are taking notice. Hastey’s Work Avenue home is a block away from Portola Drive, a Halloween night hotspot for the many families who live there and go doorto-door among the many cul-de-sacs lining the neighborhood. Hoping to get a slice of the crowds to check out his display, Hastey says he put a 12-foot-tall ghost figure in the back of his truck beginning about nine years ago for the trick-or-treaters to spot from the adjacent street. It worked, perhaps even better than he imagined. “Now, people are coming from Pacific Grove, Monterey,” Hastey says. “They’ll make the trip over to see what I’ve done.” Hastey may have gotten the ball rolling in his neighborhood. He’s noticed more homes getting decked out for the season in the years since he first put up his display, and the trickor-treaters are following suit. This year’s display, Hastey says, is “the most elaborate I’ve ever done.” The zombie crawlers are new (he adds that he has to keep an eye on them, because they may end up wriggling their way through the entire neighborhood), as is a more prominent spot for Gordon the ghoul with his horde of gourds. A laser lights up the fog created by a machine, adding a sea of red low to the ground across the entire display. On Halloween night, Hastey dresses up as Michael Myers from the Halloween films, lurking up and down the street. Most of his pieces are purchased online or from stores such as Spirit Halloween and Home Depot—“I’m pretty picky about what I get,” he says—while he has to strategize which animatronics to turn on and which to keep off. Not only because of the sound factor (too much on at the same time just leads to white noise) but also for how terrifying they can be to younger children. Hastey is proud to hear from kids who were too scared to walk into the display in previous years, but as they grow older, so too does their courage. “When they make it up here, they don’t get just one candy,” he says. “They get a handful. There’s a reward to come through the yard.” One animatronic remains turned off. It’s just too scary. “I want to give the candy away,” Hastey says. “I don’t want the kids to not want to come up here.” Hastey, an electrician for 30 years, says he didn’t have many opportunities to go trick-or-treating while he was growing up in rural Carmel Valley. But one neighbor who put up a display in their garage with candy has stuck with him all these years. “I remembered it, and I’m 57 now,” he says, adding that he now wants to give children a place to look forward to visiting on Halloween every year. “That’s probably one of the reasons why I do it big as an adult. “For me, Halloween is all about ghouls, goblins, ghosts and demons. I try to stay true to what Halloween actually is.” Some may argue that he goes too far with the display, Hastey notes, but he adds that it’s all make-believe, and he gets his grandchildren involved in setting up the display so it doesn’t scare them at night—at least, not too much. “Come nighttime, that’s when this thing comes alive,” he says. “I love Halloween. It’s one of the funnest days of the year for me.” Creepy Crawlies A Del Rey Oaks home becomes a Halloween night destination for brave candy seekers. By Erik Chalhoub “There’s a reward to come through the yard.” TALES FROM THE AREA CODE DANIEL DREIFUSS Paul Hastey’s Halloween display at his Del Rey Oaks home not only goes big on the visual scares, but also provides ambiance through a hidden speaker. COMMEMORATING 50 YEARS OF THE END OF THE VIETNAM WAR A fireside chat with Secretary Leon Panetta and Col. (Ret.) Fred Meurer, moderated by Dan Green, KSBW Includes breakfast. Proceeds supporting the Veterans Transition Center FORGOTTEN HEROES NO MORE GET TICKETS WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12 7:30 - 9:00 AM • MONTEREY CONFERENCE CENTER
6 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY OCTOBER 30-NOVEMBER 5, 2025 www.montereycountynow.com NEWS Monterey County holds the top spot statewide as the county with the most illegal cannabis destroyed during the last quarter, according to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office. On Oct. 21, they reported 76,166 pounds of allegedly illegal cannabis were destroyed with a value of more than $125.6 million, making up over half of the total illegal cannabis seized in the state over the months of July, August and September. Los Angeles was a distant second, with 16,340 pounds of illegal cannabis destroyed valued at $26.9 million. “The bigger you are, the harder they fall,” says Michelle House, Monterey County’s Cannabis Program Manager. She attributes a large part—if not all—of those numbers to a cannabis bust that occurred in July near Pajaro, at 1400 San Juan Road. According to planning records, Ladybug Farms, LLC was granted a use permit for approximately 715,000 square feet of medical cannabis cultivation in existing greenhouses, as well as approximately 6,000 square feet of non-volatile processing. House explains that illegal cannabis can appear a lot of different ways, including growing cannabis on a legal farm but not going through proper tracking mechanisms. The investigation into that site was led by the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department in collaboration with the Unified Cannabis Enforcement Taskforce, a multi-agency taskforce under California’s Department of Cannabis Control. While House doesn’t investigate illegal activity, her focus is to ensure ordinances and the correct processes are met on farms trying to transition to legalization. “From seed to sale,” she says, “it has to be tracked.” Smoke Show A single cannabis bust accounts for Monterey County’s high ranking for illegal activity. By Katie Rodriguez The 50,000-square-foot cold storage warehouse at the Food Bank for Monterey County is looking sparse on Monday, Oct. 27. Normally filled with fresh produce in the summer, come fall agricultural companies that donate to the Food Bank move production to Yuma, Arizona and donations decrease. “I would call this just about empty,” CEO and Executive Director Melissa Kendrick says. In another part of the warehouse where non-perishable food is stored, she points to empty shelves. What used to take three to six months to deplete now takes four to eight weeks. The dearth of food could not come at a worse time as the federal government shutdown continues. As of Tuesday, Oct. 28, an estimated 50,000 people in Monterey County representing 30,000 families were in danger of not receiving their November CalFresh benefits, the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), once known as food stamps. There are SNAP reserve funds but the Trump administration claimed they were not legally able to use them. California and more than 20 other states filed suit on Tuesday, Oct. 28 against the administration, demanding the benefits continue. As Nov. 1 approached, officials at the Monterey County Department of Social Services were preparing recipients for the possible shutdown. “What we are doing is asking our CalFresh recipients to call 211 and check the food banks if they need food, because at this point we’re waiting ourselves to see what happens,” says DSS Deputy Director Annette Gallegos, referring to the phone number for information and referrals operated by the United Way Monterey County. Already in recent months the Food Bank has seen more people showing up to over 100 distribution sites in search of food. In some cases, sites run out. Since the beginning of September they’ve seen a significant increase in requests beyond the normal demand as seasonal agricultural workers head into a period of unemployment, Kendrick says. “It’s shocking to see how quickly the numbers are going up,” Kendrick says. “For those who we serve, they seem to be getting further and further behind because of inflationary costs.” The Food Bank serves approximately 60,000 families and 160,000 individuals each month. Inflation also impacts the Food Bank, which purchases a high volume of food. Early in the Trump administration, they lost 20 truckloads of protein and dairy they normally receive due to federal funding cuts. A grant to purchase produce from first-generation, independent farmers was ended. Kendrick says in general they’ve seen food costs go up 50- to 80-percent since the Covid-19 pandemic while the need among local residents has not decreased. Food Bank trucks advertise that the organization serves 1 in 4 children in the county, but that’s outdated—it’s more like 1 in 3. Gov. Gavin Newsom announced on Oct. 22 he is fast-tracking $80 million in funds to food banks ahead of the delays in benefits. Although CalFresh benefits are endangered for November, another U.S. Department of Agriculture program, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), will continue through the end of the month. CSU Monterey Bay students from the Green Cadre program and the softball team fill boxes with food at the Food Bank for Monterey County on Monday, Oct. 27. Bare Cupboards Lingering government shutdown imperils access to food for an estimated 30,000 local families. By Pam Marino A July 16 raid on a farm near Pajaro resulted in officers from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and other agencies seizing (and destroying) thousands of pounds of cannabis. “It’s shocking to see how quickly the numbers are going up.” DANIEL DREIFUSS DANIEL DREIFUSS
www.montereycountynow.com OCTOBER 30-NOVEMBER 5, 2025 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 7 To find out more visit: vote.ca.gov Drop Box ° In-Person ° Vote-By-Mail Special Election NOV 4th VOTE NOW! Make your voice count.
8 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY OCTOBER 30-NOVEMBER 5, 2025 www.montereycountynow.com A funding opportunity for an affordable housing project behind Monterey City Hall is in jeopardy, as the state Office of Preservation (SHPO) remains concerned about the project’s aesthetic impacts in a district filled with historic buildings. On Oct. 20, City of Monterey officials made their fourth submittal to SHPO asking the agency to find “no adverse effect” to the Monterey Old Town National Historic Landmark District if the project is built. The Madison Street project is a proposed partnership between the City and nonprofit MidPen Housing that seeks to build 41 units—ranging from studios to three-bedrooms—entirely reserved for households making 60 percent or less of the county’s median income. The project is on land behind City Hall that is currently a parking lot and a handful of small buildings, some which are being used as storage. This comes after several efforts by the City to obtain clearance from state officials. The City sent SHPO a letter Jan. 3 asking for clearance, along with detailed reports from the city’s historic and archaeological consultants to demonstrate no impact on the historic district. The letter, sent by planner Levi Hill, asked that SHPO agree with the City’s findings of no impact within 30 days. (This came after the City’s first request in 2023, which was then refined based on SHPO’s feedback.) No response came, and the City sent another letter to SHPO to follow up in July. SHPO found that “the massing, size, and scale” of the project is “incompatible with the general character and setting of known historic properties” within the area. It means the City may miss a chance to take advantage of a funding opportunity MidPen recently identified that requires a grant application this November. Monterey Community Development Director Kim Cole says construction could start as soon as spring, but another funding source would have to be identified. “All of a sudden things have gotten more real,” she says. The City’s Oct. 20 letter to SHPO emphasized that “the City has worked earnestly and diligently fulfilled the regulatory requirements” of historical preservation laws, and asked for an “expedient” review and response so the City doesn’t miss a critical funding opportunity. “It will be infuriating if we miss our funding deadlines,” Cole says, “and we may very well. It shouldn’t happen.” Ten companies are vying to become Pacific Grove’s first and only retail cannabis operator, city officials announced on Monday, Oct. 27, sharing a list of all 10 on the city’s website. At least two of the 10 companies are major cannabis retail chains with 15 or more locations. It brings the small town one step closer in a six-year struggle, including a majority of residents voting in favor of one store in 2022. The next step is a review of the applications by city staff to see if each company meets the minimum requirements, a process that could take through the end of the year, according to P.G. City Manager Matt Mogensen. The applicants that meet those requirements will then be placed in a lottery to choose the winner, which could take place in early January. Each application is being judged on its business, security and building plans, plus intentions of how the company will compensate employees, if it will employ local management and be compatible with the surrounding neighborhood. The application had to include a financial responsibility agreement, an affidavit from the property owner or landlord, proof of insurance and zoning verification. The fee to apply was $9,272, plus an additional $300 fee for a background check and $210 for zoning verification. The two major retailers that applied are Embarc Dispensary, filing under Pacific Grove Responsible and Compliant Retail, which has 17 locations in the state. The other is NUG, with 14 stores in California and one in New York. Eight of the companies filed as LLCs in September using as their agent Sean Maddocks, an attorney with Green Consulting Partners based in Newport Beach. Maddocks also filed his own application under the name P.G. Retail LLC. Who is behind the other seven LLCs is unclear—Maddocks says he cannot share his clients’ names without their permission. The other LLCs that applied are: Marogy RE, ADM Biz Dev, MJRE, Robbinhood, OTC PG, OTC Pacific Grove and Rawy Rogers. Old Money Historic preservation threatens an affordable housing project in Monterey. By David Schmalz NEWS LISTEN UP County Supervisor Chris Lopez hosts a listening session for San Lucas. Attendees are invited to share their thoughts about the community and county government. 6pm Monday, Nov. 3. San Lucas Elementary School, 53675 San Benito St., San Lucas. Free. (831) 755-5033, district3@countyofmonterey.gov. BOARD BUSINESS Monterey County Board of Supervisors meets to discuss county business. 9am Tuesday, Nov. 4. Board of Supervisors chambers, 168 W. Alisal St., first floor, Salinas. Free. (831) 7555025, countyofmonterey.gov. ELECTION DAY Mail your ballot before the deadline or visit your nearest polling place to make your voice heard in the statewide special election. Voting ends at 8pm Tuesday, Nov. 4. (831) 796-1499, countyofmonterey. gov/elections. LET’S TALK HOUSING The City of Salinas’ Regional Housing Summit talks about the shortage of affordable housing. Speakers include Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas and urban studies scholar Joel Kotkin. 8:30am-3:30pm Wednesday, Nov. 5. One Main Street, 1 Main St., Salinas. Free. (831) 758-7396, salinas.gov/ housingsummit2025. PUBLIC PROCESS Pacific Grove City Council meets to go over regular city business and accept public comment. 6pm Wednesday, Nov. 5. City Hall, 300 Forest Ave., Pacific Grove. Free. (831) 648-3181, cityofpacificgrove.org. GOING ONLINE Monterey Bay Economic Partnership is gathering public input to identify where broadband infrastructure is most needed. Survey ongoing at bit.ly/ MBEPDigitalSurvey. mbep.biz. COMMUTE CONVERSATION County of Monterey is studying which zero-emission transportation options are available that work in low-income, rural communities. A forum shares what has been learned so far. 5:30-7:30pm Thursday, Nov. 6. Castroville Library, 11160 Speegle St., Castroville. Free. RSVP at tinyurl.com/ CommunityMobilityForum. tinyurl.com/ MontereySharedMobility. IN CLASS North Monterey County Unified School District Board of Trustees meets and accepts public comment. 6pm Thursday, Nov. 6. North Monterey County High School media center, 13990 Castroville Blvd., Castroville. Free. (831) 633-3343, nmcusd.org. High Hopes Ten companies are vying for Pacific Grove’s one and only retail cannabis license. By Pam Marino Eight dilapidated buildings would be demolished to make way for 41 units of housing. It is not the buildings, but the surrounding neighborhood, that is viewed as historic. E-MAIL: toolbox@montereycountynow.com TOOLBOX “It will be infuriating if we miss our funding deadlines.” DANIEL DREIFUSS
www.montereycountynow.com OCTOBER 30-NOVEMBER 5, 2025 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 9
10 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY OCTOBER 30-NOVEMBER 5, 2025 www.montereycountynow.com When Monterey City Council met Oct. 21, it was tasked with making some hard decisions about how to close a $6 million budget deficit for the 2026-27 fiscal year, and a $10 million structural deficit going forward. Instead, unable to find a consensus, the decision has been put off until next February, when city staff will be able to share polling data about the public’s appetite for various tax measures that require voter approval. At the heart of the discussion was the city’s Neighborhood and Community Improvement Program funds. Per a voter-passed charter amendment from the 1980s, 16 percent of the city’s transient-occupancy tax revenues flow into NCIP annually to fund neighborhood-driven projects. The program has funded hundreds of projects over the decades, many of which are in need of replacement or maintenance. But NCIP does not fund maintenance, just new projects. Going into the Oct. 21 meeting, the council had already expressed willingness to take $4 million from this year’s NCIP fund, which left another $6 million to balance next year’s budget. Where to find that money is a complex question with several potential answers that include freezing unfilled staff positions, eliminating programs, potential revenue from various tax measures that require voter approval, or taking more money from NCIP, which currently has about $17 million in the bank. The latter option, as presented by City Manager Hans Uslar, would “skip a year” by taking $6 million of next year’s unallocated NCIP funds—money not yet attached to a project—to essentially buy the council some time. Per the city charter, any funds taken from NCIP require a four-fifths majority vote by the City Council. Mayor Tyller Williamson and councilmembers Kim Barber and Gino Garcia were open to taking NCIP money, but Jean Rasch and Ed Smith were resistant to the idea. Rasch said that in the organizational chart of the city, residents are “at the top.” She suggested instead freezing positions and borrowing from reserves—not NCIP—to close the $6 million gap until one or more potential tax measures could take effect. Smith wanted to focus on cutting spending—NCIP not included—by freezing positions, and looking at what programs can be cut, such as rental assistance. He also wanted more information about what positions could be potentially eliminated. Without a four-fifths consensus, the council will be making the decision next year. Uslar says he thinks when the council has all the information, they will make the decision to take the money from NCIP, and adds that the possibility of a bond measure has been floated by the council for public safety facility upgrades. Uslar uses a metaphor of a banker looking at a city that borrows from reserves while it’s sitting on a pot of cash elsewhere. “That makes a reasonable banker say, ‘Hey, that’s interesting,’” he says. Balancing Act Monterey City Council remains unable to find consensus on closing a $10 million budget deficit. By David Schmalz Monterey Mayor Tyller Williamson has promoted the most aggressive plan to take money out of the Neighborhood and Community Improvement Program to solve a budget deficit. NEWS She suggested freezing positions and borrowing from reserves. DANIEL DREIFUSS Voted Monterey County’s Best Antique Shop ’25 ♦ 3 Card Poker ♠ Century 21st No Bust Black Jack ♣ Texas Hold’em ♥ FULL BAR! BLACKJACK BONUS POINTS PAYS UP TO $20,000 SMALL TOWN BIG PAYOUTS! 1-800-Gambler • GEAR-000383, GEAR-000376, GEAR-000375 The Marina Club Casino ensures the safety and security of all guests and team members at all times, while providing exceptional service. 204 Carmel Ave. Marina 831-384-0925 casinomonterey.com ♠ ♣ ♥ ♦ Just minutes from Downtown Monterey Where Monterey Comes To Play
www.montereycountynow.com OCTOBER 30-NOVEMBER 5, 2025 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 11 There is a link between childhood trauma and negative health outcomes that was established by researchers with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control in 1998. They crafted a questionnaire called the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) study as a part of this research, which tallies up experiences of childhood abuse and household dysfunction to provide individuals with a score. The higher the score, they found, the higher the risk for things like heart disease, incarceration and premature death. That study is still widely used by public health and policymakers today. “It’s a very simplistic thing,” says Monterey County District Attorney Jeanine Pacioni, “but they gave those tests to people who were incarcerated, and almost without exception, inmates scored a 7 or higher for adverse childhood experiences.” But there are ways to disrupt this trajectory. Since 2018, Pacioni has been working to create resource centers in Monterey County to break the cycle of generational violence. In 2024, she opened the Family Justice Center in King City to serve residents of South County, but has since struggled to find a location for a similar resource center in Salinas, where most of the DA’s cases are. Now, Pacioni is beginning talks with County of Monterey officials to transform Monterey County’s original juvenile detention home, located near Natividad Medical Center and a bus line, into another family justice center. In 2024, Pacioni launched a 501(c) (3), Holding on to Hope, which will fundraise for the costs of construction. Unlike the FJC in King City, which is led by the DA’s office, the Salinas location will be nonprofit-led. “We’re throwing all kinds of resources trying to rehabilitate people,” Pacioni says. “But what if we were able to actually address the trauma earlier, so we didn’t have these people going into custody? That’s what we’re targeting. This is not rehabilitation, this is prevention with a big P.” Last year, the DA served 2,045 victims, not including the 1,000 served by the Monterey County Rape Crisis Center and 400 by the YWCA. Compounding this, the number of juvenile murder and attempted murder offenses increased by 186 percent from 2023 to 2024, rising from seven to 20 offenders. Holding on to Hope is currently working with a volunteer architect to draft plans for renovating the building while they enter negotiations with the County, hoping to lease the property for a marginal amount. Over time the building has fallen into disrepair; there is no running water in the bathrooms and asbestos and hazardous materials have accumulated. Fear, income, lack of transportation and emotional and psychological barriers all create walls that make it difficult for crime victims to escape dangerous situations, Pacioni says. Add to that navigating a complex web of services, and people can find themselves driving hundreds of miles. “What’s going to happen? They’re going to give up,” Pacioni says. Centralized services, she hopes, can change that. Rebirth, Renew The District Attorney’s Office makes moves for a new resource center in Salinas. By Katie Rodriguez The District Attorney’s Office has its eyes set on Monterey County’s original juvenile hall for a new family resource center, located at 1352 Natividad Road in Salinas. NEWS “This is not rehabilitation, this is prevention with a big P.” KATIE RODRIGUEZ
12 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY OCTOBER 30-NOVEMBER 5, 2025 www.montereycountynow.com CAPITOL CONNECTION I applaud Bradley Zeve for having the guts to ask Jimmy Panetta about his acceptance of AIPAC money, and for publishing his answer (“U.S. Rep. Jimmy Panetta on what keeps him up at night and how to fight for democracy in uncertain times,” Oct. 23-29). What I found specifically disturbing was Jimmy’s answer to the question about receiving pro-Israel campaign money: “They know how principled I am.” I wonder what principles allow him to vote for unconditional support of the Israeli government while Israel continues to justify the theft of land and resources from Palestinians, is completely sectarian in practice, is an apartheid government and is carrying out genocide. It is time to realize that AIPAC walks, talks and works as a foreign actor, and what we need is a truly principled congressman. Robert Gularte | Monterey I appreciate Congressman Panetta’s stated commitment to defend democracy against the unprecedented threats of this authoritarian administration. Yet his record reveals a troubling misalignment with many Monterey County voters, especially regarding Israel. In response to Zeve’s thoughtful question about more than $243,000 in AIPAC-linked campaign donations, Panetta replied: “These are individuals who choose to donate to me based on the values that I have.” He’s telling us his values align with those of AIPAC, a hawkish lobbying group out of step with the majority of Democrats. This is not simply about one bill, HR 9495, but reflects a pattern. Panetta’s AIPAC-aligned votes have helped send more than $16 billion U.S. tax dollars to Israel’s military since October 2023—millions of it flowing from our district to fund what a U.N. commission has deemed a genocide. Panetta has also consistently opposed ceasefire resolutions and conditions on military aid that would have discouraged Israel’s war crimes. He is undoubtedly on the wrong side of history. Kera Panni | Seaside I quickly gleaned at the cover and for a moment, I thought it said “View from Hell.” I laughed when I read the real title (“View from the Hill”), but my original reading is probably accurate as well. Thank you, Jimmy Panetta, for all your effort and work to help your constituents and our country. Celeste Williams | Carmel TO THE DOGS It’s the perfect location, is a business building not a house, and has fewer residential neighbors than the Pacific Grove house POMDR owns and quietly runs (“Carmel Valley residents push back on Peace of Mind Dog Rescue’s plan to house dogs,” Oct. 16-22). I think it’s a great addition to the properties of POMDR. Senior dogs need a place to lounge on a sofa and soak up the rays. Cheryl Dorsey | via social media You’ve got to be kidding me! Only cold-hearted grumpy people would take issue with this. They need the love of a dog. Celia Madison | via social media BUS LINE Thanks to their bait and switch of the SURF! line where they said they wouldn’t delete the tracks only to then go ahead and do just that, they can expect a no vote from us (“A new state bill paves the way for MontereySalinas Transit to ask voters for more money,” Oct. 16-22). Josh Stephens | via social media We should have expected this. Trying to offset costs of the new [SURF! busway] project. Brandon Kelsey | Marina POWER OF THE PRESS Regarding your assertion that local reporting is an important component of free speech, my instant reaction was that if local media such as the Weekly were to present a more balanced perspective as to what is happening in our society, some would be far more motivated to support the paper (“Free speech is our right. But we shouldn’t take it for granted,” posted Oct. 21). A perfect example is “free speech.” If that topic is to be breached it’s necessary to start where free speech came under the most severe attack in this century: 2020-2024. James Macfarlane | Big Sur PUSH BACK Robert McGregor’s letter takes aim at what he calls the “liberal far left” and a “do-nothing Biden administration” (“Letters,” Oct. 23-29). But repeating political talking points doesn’t make them true. President Biden’s term saw historic infrastructure investment, record job growth and expanded support for veterans—tangible actions that actually do something. As for his dismissal of protest—let’s remember that protest is not wasted energy; it’s the engine of democracy. The growing “No Kings” movement isn’t about chaos, it’s about accountability. Americans are saying, loudly and clearly, that no one—whether named Trump, Biden or McGregor— gets to rule without question. We can debate policies, but dismissing civic action and labeling fellow citizens as “misguided” is exactly the kind of arrogance that drives people into the streets. Democracy depends on dissent. It always has. Maggie Power | Salinas PATH FORWARD Such an amazing program! (“Rancho Cielo was an idea that wasn’t supposed to fly. Today, the school is soaring,” Oct. 23-29.) Rachelle Davi-Razzeca | Moss Landing SOUP FOR YOU So delicious! I love this place and they are so kind to my wild toddler who loves their food too (“Rice and Roots is the culmination of a chef’s passion for the flavors of Vietnam,” Oct. 16-22). Lauren DaSilva | via social media CORRECTION A story about Rancho Cielo inaccurately stated the number of students served in 2024-25 (“Rancho Cielo was an idea that wasn’t supposed to fly. Today, the school is soaring,” Oct. 23-29). It was 200 in that time frame, not 2,250—the latter is the number of students served over all 25 years. LETTERS • COMMENTSOPINION Submit letters to the editor to letters@montereycountynow.com. Please keep your letter to 150 words or less; subject to editing for space. Please include your full name, contact information and city you live in.
www.montereycountynow.com OCTOBER 30-NOVEMBER 5, 2025 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 13 Sometimes, the best intentions of government collide with the very real day-to-day fiscal obligations of government. In the case of one noble idea—to build a 96-bed mental health rehabilitation center—the collision came on Tuesday, Oct. 28, when members of the Monterey County Board of Supervisors had a series of pointed questions. In the broadest terms, the project is sorely needed. About 100 Monterey County residents at any given time are in a mental health rehabilitation center—a locked facility for patients suffering from a serious mental health crisis—but they are all out of county. That’s because our county currently has zero beds, so patients instead are placed elsewhere for care. Due to the non-existence of beds in Monterey County, and a shortage statewide, many end up staying in hospital settings for longer—not ideal for a variety of reasons, straining hospital staffs, and a decidedly non-therapeutic place for a person in crisis. For patients placed outside of the county, Behavioral Health Services Bureau Chief Melanie Rhodes told the supervisors, it can be prohibitive for family members to visit. That’s the problem. The solution, as pitched by Rhodes and Health Department Director Elsa Jimenez, is to construct a psychiatric care center locally. They envision a 96-bed campus with six 16-bed buildings (that sizing is driven by state requirements) and an admin building. The hope is that patients are treated and someday become independent, with family and friends as a support system. But that solution introduces a whole new series of challenges. The Health Department started with plans to use part of the old jail—not as counterintuitive as it may sound, because these are secure, locked facilities. When they learned the Sheriff’s Office still needed that space, they shifted gears from renovating an existing building to new construction on a parcel in Salinas just north of the Natividad campus on Constitution Boulevard, across from the soccer complex. The projected cost grew from $46 million to $75 million. Then came serious sticker shock amid rising construction costs: a new budget of $172 million. “I appreciate the ambitious proposal,” Supervisor Glenn Church said. “I’m not completely comfortable with these moving numbers…I have real concerns on the financial viability.” All of the supervisors cited the global uncertainty right now emanating from Washington. Medi-Cal coverage for physical health care is already set to shrink significantly; what’s to say a federal policy slashing mental health coverage isn’t coming down the road? Tariffs and interest rates and construction costs remain unpredictable. Jimenez and Finance Manager Nick Cronkhite emphasized that the facility would be self-sustaining. They’ve already secured $50 million in state grants. The health department would pay down the remaining debt, not tapping the County’s general fund. That would happen partly by fundraising, “really leaning in on philanthropy and private donors who may be interested in making sure our residents have the services they need,” Jimenez said. It would also happen by service providers increasing their billable hours by 10.5 percent— for a staff member who spends four hours per day directly delivering client services, they would go up to spending four hours and 25 minutes of their day doing direct patient services, increasing hours billable to insurance. This is where the supervisors had the most questions: How do you simply find more minutes in the day for each staff member? There are also neighbor concerns. “I would move, immediately, the day that you broke ground,” one Creekbridge woman, who shares a backyard fenceline with the site, told the board. “I would put my house up for sale.” Supervisor Luis Alejo demanded more serious engagement with residents. “Neighbors are taken aback when a project is so far along,” he said. “[This timing] is saying, the community is an afterthought.” So far, $2.7 million has been spent on the project. With another $3 million expected to be spent by year end, the supervisors decided to hit pause. My hope is that they get the answers to questions they rightly asked, and that the project can get back on track. If not, it could be shelved indefinitely. Sara Rubin is the Weekly’s editor. Reach her at sara@montereycountynow.com. Crazy Talk Citing rising costs, County Supes put a mental health care facility on pause. By Sara Rubin DRESS DOWN…Squid knows that the sea is a dogeat-dog world, or rather, a shark-eat-fish-eat-chum world. Squid is somewhat of an anomaly among sea creatures, having learned early on not to punch something that can’t fight back. Not everyone on land thinks the same, though. In Salinas, home security footage that went viral shows a woman jogging by a display of Halloween decorations, only to jog back and punch an innocent witch figure to the ground. The woman goes on her way, only to come back seconds later and punch two other witches to the ground. She returns later to do the same thing. Squid’s colleague reached out to Salinas Police to see if officers know what beef this woman has with witchy decorations. No idea, but Sgt. Zachary Dunagan adds that police haven’t received any similar reports this Halloween season. “We get decoration thefts all the time, but not decoration boxing matches,” he says. Police found the woman and warned her to stay off the property, Dunagan says, with the homeowner declining to press charges. Squid will put on Squid’s best costume as a sea monster to go out trick-or-treating for shrimp-flavored treats this Halloween, and hopes there are no fists raised along the way. SHUT OUT…Speaking of Halloween candy, Squid’s least favorite is Airheads White Taffy Mystery. Squid demands full disclosure on the package to know what Squid is getting into. In Pacific Grove, the City Council is being as mysterious as that white taffy when it comes to appointing a new city attorney to replace Brian Pierik, who announced in August that he was stepping down. (Pierik, of Camarillobased Burke, Williams & Sorenson LLP, remains the attorney for neighboring Carmel.) There was no mention of a replacement on council agendas until Oct. 15, when that agenda included a closed session item regarding the “discussion of appointment process.” Squid found that problematic, since the state code referenced protects discussions of actual appointments, not discussions how the process will work. Next a “special meeting” was announced for noon on Tuesday, Oct. 28 with a single agenda item: “Public Employee Appointment” regarding a city attorney. Squid attempted to dial into the Zoom meeting, only to find out the meeting was a closed session. Squid’s colleague reached out to City Clerk Sandra Kandell, who said city code only requires noting if a meeting is “special,” not “closed.” As of Squid’s deadline there was no word if the council selected an attorney yet and if so, what process was used. Just like those mystery Airheads, Squid believes the wrapper on government workings should be clear about what’s going on inside. THE LOCAL SPIN SQUID FRY THE MISSION OF MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY IS TO INSPIRE INDEPENDENT THINKING AND CONSCIOUS ACTION, ETC. Our county currently has zero beds. SEND SQUID A TIP: squid@montereycountynow.com
14 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY OCTOBER 30-NOVEMBER 5, 2025 www.montereycountynow.com Teach Out White House visa fee hike could weaken California’s teacher pipeline, especially in rural districts. By Diana Lambert FORUM A White House decision to add $100,000 to the price of a work visa, allowing employers to hire from overseas for hard-to-fill positions, has California’s technology industry and other businesses reeling. But another group is also on edge: the state’s schools. California employs more teachers on H-1B visas than any state except Texas and North Carolina, according to a National Education Association analysis of federal data. Last fiscal year, 506 U.S. school districts employed 2,300 H-1B visa holders. With 10 H-1B visas in the 202425 school year, South Monterey County Joint Union High School District was the 10th-highest in California. The demand for the visas from California school districts has grown over the last seven years as the state’s schools, facing teacher shortages, have turned to overseas teachers to help fill openings. Last school year, 294 H-1B visas were granted to the state’s school districts, compared to 193 in 201819, according to the California Department of Education. The visas are typically good for three years with a possible three-year extension. But the new $100,000 charge for the H-1B visa is beyond what most districts can afford. “For these small, resource-limited districts, a $100,000 fee would be entirely cost-prohibitive and would effectively close off one of the few pipelines for qualified teachers,” says Yuri Calderon, executive director of the Small School Districts’ Association. Until Sept. 21, school districts and other employers paid application and processing fees of about $3,700 for the visa, depending on their size. That was before President Donald Trump issued a proclamation adding the $100,000 fee, effective two days later. The increase is meant to prevent the replacement of American workers with lower-paid workers from overseas, according to the proclamation. The $100,000 fee could be especially devastating to small school districts and rural districts already facing severe teacher shortages. The Trump administration has already made changes to the $100,000 fee requirement, updating the U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services website to clarify that the fee would not apply to people already in the U.S. under other visas who want to move to an H-1B visa. Education leaders are hopeful that the Trump administration will go a step further and exempt schools entirely from the fee. “Without such an exemption, this change could have a devastating impact on small school districts already facing severe teacher shortages,” Calderon says. Relief could also come from lawsuits challenging the fee filed in October, including one by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and another by a coalition of unions, employers and religious groups, but it is too soon to know how those cases will play out. Diana Lambert is based in Sacramento and writes about teachers and teaching in California. Daniel Willis contributed to this report, which was originally published by EdSource. OPINION “This change could have a devastating impact.” This project is supported by the Administration for Community Living (ACL), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $57,688 with 100 percent funding by ACL/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by ACL/HHS, or the U.S. Government. 2026 MEDICARE UPDATES Worried about next year’s premiums, deductibles, or out-of-pocket costs? Curious if more affordable Medicare coverage is available? Medicare costs—including Medicare Advantage (Part C) and Prescription Drug Plans (Part D)—change every year. Join one of our free seminars to explore your options and find out if it’s time to re-evaluate your coverage! Monterey: Scholze Park Center - Mon. 11/3 at 10:00am (English) Pacific Grove:Meals on Wheels of the Monterey PeninsulaTues. 11/4 at 12:45pm (English) Castroville: North County Recreation & Park District - Wed. 11/19 12:00pm (Spanish) Wed. 11/19 1:30pm (English) Seaside: Oldemeyer Center - Wed 11/19 1:30pm (English) Wed 11/19 3:00pm (Spanish) Call to learn more about our FREE service in your area! 800-434-0222 www.allianceonaging.org Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program - ‘HICAP’
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